ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and India swapped on Wednesday lists of prisoners in each other’s custody under an agreement on consular access.

“Consistent with the provisions of this agreement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs handed over a list of 403 Indian prisoners (48 civilian and 355 fishermen) in Pakistan to the High Commission of India in Islamabad today,” a Foreign Office statement said.

Indian authorities, meanwhile, handed over a list of Pakistani prisoners in Indian jails to a representative of Pakistan’s High Commission in Delhi.

The Indian list shows that it holds more civilian prisoners as compared to fishermen, who are often apprehended for trespassing the maritime boundary.

There are a total of 278 Pakistani in Indian jails; 251 civilians and 27 fishermen.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had earlier as a goodwill gesture announced release of 88 Pakistani fishermen during his Ramazan greetings call to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. Pakistan had then reciprocated by setting free 113 Indian fishermen.

Pakistan has been regularly providing the prisoners’ lists under the 2008 accord, but India had following the Mumbai terrorist attack stopped sharing the lists for some time.

Published in Dawn, July 2nd, 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play